Eclipse Cross

Make
Mitsubishi
Segment
SUV

The Mitsubishi Eclipse is one of the most legendary sports cars ever made by the Japanese manufacturer. Or at least it used to be. It was arguably best known for its starring role in The Fast and the Furious which cemented it in car culture. Now, Mitsubishi is reviving the iconic Eclipse name after a five-year hiatus, but before you get too excited, it's the name of its new crossover SUV imaginatively called the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, which has been revealed in full ahead of its debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.

Slotting in-between the Outlander and Outlander Sport, the Eclipse Cross is by far the most stylish SUV in Mitsubishi's line-up, taking its cues from the old Eclipse coupe and the stunning XR-PHEV II concept model, with a similar forward raked rear window, sloping roofline and truncated rear gate to give it an aggressive appearance. The front looks familiar, however, sporting Mitsubishi's signature shield grille, slim headlights, and auxiliary lamps, while high-mounted stretched LED illuminated lamps divide the rear window at the back. Inside, the design of the interior is equally appealing.

Mitsubishi says we can expect the dashboard to be shaped using horizontal lines, with silver metal frames and a black and silver monotone color scheme. The futuristic cockpit also has a new head-up display showing speed and data from the active safety systems, a table-like infotainment display, and Smartphone Link Display Audio with Apple CarPlay support, which can be operated using the touchpad controller in the center console. In the US, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross will only be available with a 1.5-liter direct-injection turbocharged gasoline engine mated to a new CVT transmission with eight-speed Sport Mode manual override.

Other markets outside the US will also have the option of a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel with an eight-speed automatic. Power output has yet to be revealed, but the Eclipse Cross will also have an electronically-controlled 4WD system that feeds optimum torque to the rear wheels depending on the situation and road surface. Body rigidity has also been increased thanks to a three-point strut tower brace at the front and the structural bonding at the rear, resulting in improved handling and stability. The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross will initially be sold in Europe later this fall, followed by North America and other regions.